Metal floor beam construction



July 24, 1934.

J. KAHN METAL FLOOR BEAM CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 18 1930 naeni'or: tfidz'us Kuhn 129 m Ailfy.

Patented July 24, 1934 UNETED STATES METAL FLOOR BEAM CONSTRUCTIION Julius Kahn, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor' to Truscon Steel Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Michigan Application August 18, 1930, Serial No. 476,156

1 Claim.

The object of the present invention is to provide a flooring. structure comprising units of formed metal that will act both as the floor proper with tread surfaces and as supports, in

other words providing a self-supporting structure that can be easily produced and readily assembled.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a. perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a rolled plate from which the unit of Figure 1 can be pro duced.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a slightly modifled form of construction.

Figure 4 is a sectional view-of the blank from which the unit of Figure 3 is made.

Figure 5 is a blank slightly modified from that shown in Figure 2. I

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the structure consists of a series of units 9. Each of these units is a channel metal beam, comprising a top or bearing member 10 with depending side members or flanges 11. The 5 top member is materially heavier or thicker than the side flanges 11 and its upper face is preferably grooved, ribbed, or otherwise roughened, as illustrated at 12 to provide a tread surface. The side flanges 11 are in vertical o planes beyond the side edges of the thicker top wall 10 and are integrally joined thereto by outwardly bent portions 13. The free edges of the flanges 11 are provided with inturned longitudinally disposed stiifening ribs 14.

In the formation of this unit, the metal may be initially rolled to the form showmin Figure 2, and afterwards formed in a vertical press or other rolling machinery to the flnal shape shown in Figure 1.

In use a series of these units are placed side by side with the flanges 11 in directly associated relation. These flanges may be bolted together as shown at 15 or otherwise suitably secured. When so assembled, it will be noted that the portions 13 joining the top wall 10 and the flanges 11 produce grooves 16 in the upper surface of the floor. These grooves may be filled with elastic cement.

, When assembled the structure by reason of the separate webs, which in their combined form take the shape of an I-beam, can span great distances and be used in place of beams, spanning directly between the girders. In this connection it will be observed that the side flanges, though individually thinner than the top walls, together produce vertical webs of great strength, and the ribs 14 being of thickened metal, serve to resist any tendency of the webs to bend. The structure is peculiarly applicable to heavy use, such as in power-houses, co ware-houses, piers, etc. where loads are great and efllciency is desirable. The structure may also be used with advantages between the rails ,at railroad crossings, in factory floors and the like.

A modified. form of construction is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, wherein the top wall 10a is provided with side flanges 11a. integrally joined to the edges of the top wall at the thickened portions. These flanges are provided with the stiffening ribs 141:. along their free edges. The blank of such a unit is illustrated in Figure 4. The ribs may take different forms, as for example, in Figure 5 where said rib here designated 14b is of heavier cross sectional formation.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further de- 30 longitudinally extended side walls having relatively -flat smooth unbroken outer faces for lying against the corresponding i'acesof the side walls of adjacent units of a floor structure, said top wall being of greater thickness than the side walls.

JULIUS KAHN. 

